— The Reaper's Mistake
It was pitch black. Nothing could be seen, nothing could be touched—until a voice broke the deadly silence.
"Hmm... well... I'm sorry for the mistake, pal. But let's fix it as soon as possible."
Ziro, momentarily stunned, looked toward the source of the voice. The darkness began to peel away as a figure in a black veil emerged from the void.
"What is this?" Those were the only words he managed, eyes slightly wide, mouth agape.
And in the next moment, memories came flooding back. Ziro's eyes shot wide as everything came rushing in—where he was and how he got here.
---
I was returning home from college when I saw a little boy run into the middle of the road. A truck was barreling toward him. His mother screamed from the sidewalk. I knew I could save him. Without thinking, I dashed forward and shielded the boy.
The last thing I remember was the child crying in my arms as I lay on the pavement. His mother was rushing toward us. My vision blurred... and then everything faded to black.
---
"Wait…" Ziro gasped as all the pieces clicked into place. "Am I... dead?"
The man in the black veil stopped and looked at him. "Well, sorry to say, pal, but yeah. You're dead."
His tone was oddly casual, yet something in it felt... hollow.
"Hm? You don't look that shaken for someone who just died," the man observed, studying Ziro's face.
Ziro nodded. "What can I say? It's not like anything would change if I panicked. Right?"
The veiled man chuckled. "Fair point. Let's get this over with, then."
"Hm?" Ziro tilted his head. "What do you mean? Who even are you?"
There was a pause before the man finally answered, "I'm the one who manages death. And you… well, you died before your time. A mistake on our side. So now, we're here to make it up to you."
A long, ornate axe materialized in his hand, seemingly pulled from thin air.
Ziro's eyes narrowed. "So... you're the Reaper? The Grim Reaper?"
"Hm?" The man tilted his head in return. "I suppose that's what they call me on Earth."
The Reaper had expected rage, panic, denial—maybe even curses. But Ziro was surprisingly calm. The higher-ups—Gods and Goddesses—weren't happy about the mistake, but this human's attitude was... unexpected.
"Then…" Ziro asked, "what happens now? If my death was a mistake, are you sending me back?"
The Reaper glanced at him thoughtfully. This boy… he's different. I haven't seen anyone this calm in front of death.
"Well…" he began, "I can't send you back. Your soul has already passed through. Your link to Earth is broken."
He walked beside Ziro. "But I can send you to another world. And, as compensation, I'll grant you one wish."
Ziro's eyes lit up. "One wish? Anything?"
The Reaper simply nodded.
A thousand possibilities swirled through Ziro's mind. Power. Wealth. Immortality. He exhaled slowly and chose.
"I want the power to become the strongest of all there."
With power, you can survive, rule, protect… achieve anything. Ziro's eyes were firm with resolve.
"As you wish," the Reaper said, raising his axe. "Now go."
The space around Ziro cracked. A powerful force pulled at him from behind.
"Make sure you don't die too early," the Reaper added, his voice echoing. "This new world is different. Magic, mana, other races... a whole new world."
Those were the last words Ziro heard before the void claimed him once again.
...
"I'm sorry," an old man said quietly. "The poison has spread throughout his entire body. He has two days at most."
He was examining a young man lying unconscious on a large bed—black hair, pale skin, fragile frame. His breathing was faint.
*What's going on?* Ziro wondered, hearing the voices but unable to move.
"Thank you," another voice responded. "Thank you for taking care of the young lord. Please, come."
This voice belonged to another elderly man—tall and lean, with a straight back, white hair, and a dignified mustache.
The first man gave a respectful bow and exited the room. Now Ziro—inhabiting this frail body—lay alone.
Why can't I move? Hethought. Why can't I even open my eyes?
Suddenly, a chime rang in his mind, and a translucent blue screen appeared in front of him.
---
[ System Binding… ]
[ Integration: 1%… 5%… 20%… 40%… 60%… 80%… 100% ]
[ System Activated! ]
---
Ziro's heart raced. *A system? Just like in those novels…*
Could this be the Reaper's doing? he wondered, as he remembered him granting a 'wish'.
As if in response, the screen flickered, and a mailbox icon popped up.
How am I supposed to open that? I can't move… Wait...
Ziro focused. *Open.*
The mailbox trembled slightly—then popped open.
---
[ Mail ]
I hope you received what you wished for, pal. This system will help you in every way you desire. Don't die too early.
~Grim Reaper 💀
---
What's with that weird skull at the end? Ziro mused.
You're telling me not to die early when I'm literally on my deathbed?!
Though outwardly calm, frustration bubbled inside him.
"Hey, system? Are you there?" he called, recalling how it worked in the stories he read.
Silence.
Then—
"Host!" an energetic feminine voice rang out. "I'm here!"
"Can you help me? I can't move. I can't even open my eyes."
"Host, that's because your new body was poisoned and is currently paralyzed," the system explained cheerfully.
"So... I die again?"
"Nope! I'm preparing the cure now."
---
[ Poison Detected: Eternal Poison ]
[ Extracting Cure… 10%… 40%… 79%… 100% ]
[ Injecting Cure… Successful! Poison Neutralized. ]
---
A warm sensation spread through Ziro's body. His fingers twitched. He could feel again.
He took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.
A white marble ceiling, adorned with golden carvings, greeted him. The room around him exuded royalty—ornate wardrobes, golden-framed windows, an air fragrant with subtle sweetness. Symbols of strange origin glowed faintly on the walls.
Before he could process more, another pop-up appeared.
---
[ Do you want to access the memories of the body you reincarnated into? ]
> Yes No
---
Ziro hesitated only for a moment before choosing *Yes*.
"Ah—!" he gasped as a rush of memories stormed his mind.
.
.
.
*So… my name is Dian Skyster. A young lord of the prestigious Skyster family. My parents… died in a war. I've been lying here, poisoned and helpless. Or rather... I was.*
Ziro—no, Dian—smiled faintly.
A new world, a new name, a new life... and this time, I'll be the strongest.